An application for grant aid towards improvement works has been received from the management authorities of the Salesian College, Celbridge, County Kildare. The application is being examined at present in the school planning section of my Department and, as soon as this examination is completed, a decision on the matter will issue to the management authority.
The 2003 capital programme has been published and my Department does not intend to allow further large-scale projects into architectural planning during 2003. The timing of when individual projects can progress to architectural planning will depend on the budgetary provision for 2004 and subsequent years, the rate of progress with existing projects in architectural planning and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the published criteria for prioritising large-scale building projects.
In the meantime, my Department will continue to manage the contingency sum for emergencies that is set out in the programme to deal, as best as possible, with the most urgent needs in schools.